County buildings to remain closed to public indefinitely

Chairman Khoury says its in anticipation of Governor extending emergency order

By Robert Creenan, robert.creenan@hearst.com

Published
2:32 pm EDT, Thursday, April 9, 2020

HURON COUNTY — Huron County Board of Commissioners Chairman Sami Khoury announced Thursday that he would be extending the closure of the county building and the Michigan State University Extension to the public indefinitely.

The closure would last until Gov. Gretchen Whitmer rescinds her emergency order that requires local governments to suspend activities that are not necessary to sustain or protect life in the wake of COVID-19, or until further action is taken by the board of commissioners, whichever comes first.

Khoury said the action was taken in anticipation of Whitmer further extending the order, which was scheduled to expire on April 13 at 11:59 p.m.

The action taken by the commissioners had the County Building and MSUE office closed to the public until 8:30 a.m. on April 13.

The commissioners had previously decided to have the closure last until April 13 at their March 24 meeting, one day after the governor issued her executive order. At that meeting, the commissioners authorized Khoury to use emergency powers until the emergency is lifted, or further action by the commissioners, whichever comes first.

The county building and MSUE office has been closed to the public since March 17, in response to the governor’s initial state of emergency.

The next board of commissioners meeting will be on April 14 and will be held through the Zoom conferencing application, the first time the commissioners will hold an electronic meeting since the COVID-19 outbreak started.